Category Archives: Quickie Reviews

Arturo Fuente Chateau Maduro Rothschild

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-Country – Dominican Republic
-Wrapper – Connecticut Maduro
-Binder – Dominican Republic
-Filler – Dominican Republic
-Size – Rothschild 4 1/2 x 50
-Price -$4 local

Takeaway
Wow. This Arturo Fuente Chateau Maduro Rothschild is a great smoke.
I get a sweetness like dark honey, a nice amount of earthiness, and a little bit of leather.
The finish is also sweet, although for the last third it tends to get ashy.
At 4 bucks a stick you can’t go wrong. Stock up on these bargains!

Flavor – Medium
Strength – Mild
Body – Medium-Plus
Construction – Very Good

Rating
Because of the great flavors and very affordable price, these get a…
4 out of 5

Gurkha Widow Maker

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widowmaker

-Country – Dominican Republic
-Wrapper – Ecuador Connecticut
-Binder – Dominican Habano
-Filler – Nicaragua/Honduras
-Size – XO 6 x 60
-Price – $3.50 – $15

Takeaway
Unlike a lot of people, I actually enjoy a few blends from Gurkha. “The Beauty” is one of my favorite morning smokes, the “Crest” is a Salomon that actually keeps my attention, and the more affordable “Park Avenue” smokes great! Now onto the “Widow Maker.”
It had a smooth, silky Connecticut wrapper grown in Ecuador. I found a hard spot by band, but didn’t pay much attention to it and went ahead and clipped the cigar. While the cold draw brought up a delicious cedar, the draw on mine was tight. The Gurkha Widow Maker has a 7 year old binder, 7 year old fillers, and a 10 year old wrapper.
It also has no business being in your humidor.
I got an astringent nuttiness right away, and that is where this cigar peaked. The nuttiness turned into sour grass and left an artificial, plastic-like finish. I smoked half then tossed it and went on living my life.

Flavor – Mild
Strength – Mild
Body – Mild

Rating
I don’t remember where I got this cigar, but it’s been in my humidor for at least 6 months. I’m ashamed that my other sticks didn’t kick it out. This barely scores a…
1.5 out of 5

Alec Bradley Black Market

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-Country -Honduras, Tobacos de Oriente Factory
-Wrapper -Nicaragua
-Binder -Sumatra
-Filler -Panama, Honduras
-Size -Robusto 5 1/4 x 52
-Price -$7, $8.50 local

Takeaway
The Black Market is sweet, smooth, and earthy. In a word, delicious. It is the perfect combination
of strength and mild sweetness. I’ve also smoked the 4 1/2 x 42 Black Market Punk,
which is also very good if you want a less expensive cigar with a shorter smoking time.

Flavor -Full-minus
Strength -Medium
Body -Medium-plus

Rating
The price is a tad bit high, but this is still a very good cigar. I give it a…
3.5 out of 5

Nica Libre 1990

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nicaband

-Country -Nicaragua
-Wrapper -San Andeas Maduro
-Binder -Habano
-Filler -Nicaragua
-Size -Toro 6 x 54
-Price -$1.75

Takeaway
The Nica Libre 1990 has a dry, chocolate brown wrapper covers this box-pressed toro from AJ Fernandez and Cigars International. Unfortunately, this is a miss for Mr. Fernandez. Dry, papery smoke is the main flavor here with a very occasional chocolate sweetness.

Flavor Medium
Strength Mild
Body Medium

Rating
I could see someone mowing with this, but it wouldn’t make that chore any more enjoyable. I give it a…
2 out of 5

Tatuaje Havana VI Nobles

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-Country -Nicaragua
-Wrapper -Nicaragua
-Binder -Nicaragua
-Filler -Nicaragua
-Size -Robusto (Nobles) 5 x 50
-Price -$7, $8 local

Takeaway
Smooth, full flavor. Slight dustiness. Delicious and sweet, packed with baking spice flavors.

Flavor-Full
Strength-Medium-minus
BodyMedium

Rating
I panic if I run out of these. A true “must have” cigar that scores a…
4 out of 5

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